There’s a gritty, spunky flavor to a state fair. You park your car on a gravel lot and hear the crunch as you maneuver your vehicle amidst the strollers, small children, and couples walking hand- in- hand. Gritty because its dust leaves a distinct taste in your mouth. Spunky with its neon signs, audacious food choices “on a stick,” and people in all shapes, colors, and apparel choices.
If you’re looking for organic food choices…. do fried veggies sandwiched between two glazed doughnuts count?! We bypassed that bold choice and settled for an Amish food stand instead. My man traded me the turkey sandwich and noodles that was absolutely dripping with meat for his chicken, carrots,and peas concoction. We couldn’t find a table but the ground sufficed. And. It. Was. Delicious.
After eating, we ambled over to the animal barns. First up- the sheep. They were MUCH larger than I anticipated. After watching their handlers steer them to the ring to be judged, it struck me again why humans are so often compared to sheep in the Bible. They are stubborn, vocal, and let’s just say not that intelligent. The handlers appeared to be firmly grabbing the sheeps’ rear as they corralled them. I couldn’t help but chuckle thinking that must be how God feels sometimes. That one- right there- namely ME- needs a good, swift kick in the rear. 🙂
Next up, the dairy barn. There were several cows outside. One sweet girl for children to try their hand at milking. Man- what must that gentle cow be thinking to herself right about now?! Further down the line, a very tired Mama Cow who had just given birth about 30 minutes earlier. Her baby had been whisked away somewhere to be cleaned up presumably. But this poor mother was lying in the straw- her placenta and exhausted spirit displayed for all the world to see. A nice breeze manufactured by an electric fan was pointed in her direction. I couldn’t help but wonder if she might prefer a little privacy right about now.
My man and I made our way back to the concert venue. What an experience- singing and worshiping with a thousand other Christ Followers to the music of Chris Tomlin!! What an emotional high. I envisioned my friend Kathy in Heaven- smiling and looking the way she did before cancer took up residence in her body. I wondered how God must feel hearing all of our voices raised in unison- PRAISING HIM.
My man and I filed out of the building and concluded that nothing could be more perfect than ice cream to cap our evening. We discovered several ice cream stands as we walked the midway, but my man wanted to retrace our steps back to The Dairy Barn. He seemed very intent that The Dairy Barn must be our ice cream destination. We entered and stood in a long line of other adventurers. A lady about 5 years our junior approached and stood next to us. She announced that she was looking for the shortest line. She liked my purse and mint chocolate ice cream a lot. It was going to taste real good. My man leaned over and whispered in my ear:
“I think that’s Janey. She lived a street over from me when I was in college. She greeted me every day with a happy-go-lucky “Hi Bob!”
Keep in mind my man and I were in college 30+ years ago. As the three of us drew closer to the cash register, I whispered “You could buy her an ice cream cone.” And that’s exactly what my man did.
Our new friend was taken aback, insisted that she had money, and would pay us back. The server handed her the coveted mint chocolate chip cone. She looked at us and said, “My name’s Janey. What’s your name?” We introduced ourselves and my man quickly added that he knew her. Janey looked startled and wandered away quickly into the crowd.
I suppose we may have frightened her a bit. First, we buy her an ice cream cone and then add that we knew her. The three of us broke every “Never talk to strangers” rule ever conceived. I kept thinking about Janey as we drove home and later again the next day. I wondered why my man felt so compelled that only an ice cream treat from The Dairy Barn would do. I questioned why out of the three lines formed for those delectable flavors, Janey had selected our line. And why did she choose my man and I to engage with?
Maybe, just maybe, God was teaching us. Showing us that He engages with us daily- moment by moment. If we see Him, if our hearts and minds are open to His Presence. And perhaps he sent Janey to jog our memories and warm our hearts.
Isaiah 43:1-2
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine.”